A bison that reportedly strayed into a residential area under the Kottiyur range in Kannur was successfully captured through chemical immobilisation and released into the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary after a two-day mission by the Forest department.The animal was first spotted by locals at Kiliyangad on Thursday night. It was found moving along Kiliyangad-Mettadi road before settling in the forest land meant for the KINFRA park at Veliyamparam. With the nearest forest area more than 15 km away, officials ruled out attempts to drive the buffalo back due to risks to both residents and the animal.Following permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, a joint operation involving staff from three ranges of the Kannur Division, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary personnel, rapid response team, and veterinary experts was launched on Friday afternoon. Poor light forced postponement of the effort, but Forest department teams patrolled through the night to track the buffalo’s movement.On Saturday, the team located the animal in the Nayaattupara area. Veterinary surgeons Ilyas Rawuthar and Muhammed Sibin administered a tranquiliser and immobilised the bison, which was then transported in a special vehicle to the sanctuary. After medical check-ups, the animal was released into the forest.Published - September 27, 2025 11:52 pm IST